Passenger Video Shows Flooding on Royal Caribbean’s World Cruise in Rough Weather

By Nathan Diller

Royal Caribbean International’s Serenade of the Seas encountered rough weather off the coast of South America, causing flooding in some parts of the ship. The vessel, currently operating the line’s nine-month Ultimate World Cruise, was en route from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil to Montevideo, Uruguay at the time.

A spokesperson for Royal Caribbean stated that the ship “experienced heavy wind and rain,” resulting in flooding in one set of elevators and six rooms. The onboard team managed minor cleanup and elevator repairs, allowing Serenade of the Seas to continue its journey to Montevideo as planned.

Adita Larson, a 64-year-old passenger, described the ship as being tilted to one side, making it difficult to walk. Larson, who has been on over 100 cruises with the line, found the experience to be unprecedented. She reported witnessing water entering cabins through balcony doors and shared a TikTok video showing the floor on Deck 12 covered in water.

The captain advised guests to avoid the flooded forward elevators and announced the closure of the ship’s outside areas. Crew members in the dining room reported dishes falling off tables during the ship’s tilt. By about 3 p.m., the weather cleared up, and the forward elevators were accessible again.

In recent weeks, videos about the Ultimate World Cruise have gained popularity on TikTok, with posts from both passengers and users at home garnering millions of views. Angie Linderman, a passenger on the 274-night itinerary, saw her TikTok followers surge as she chronicled her time on board.

As the cruise continues, it remains to be seen how the experience unfolds for passengers and how the cruise line manages the aftermath of the rough weather incident.